After trouncing his opponents to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Taro Aso, a 68-year-old former foreign minister, was sworn in on September 24th as Japan's third (unelected) new prime minister in two years. Mr Aso, a Catholic, is the grandson of Shigeru Yoshida, a former prime minister (seated above; the young Mr Aso is standing in the centre) and as blue-blooded as they come. But he has a populist appeal, and in this leadership bid, his fourth, managed to reassure colleagues that his sometimes brashly expressed hawkish views would not jeopardise Japan's improved ties with China and South Korea. His straight-talking, upbeat style contrasts with his morose, short-tenured predecessors, Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fu-kuda. Unlike both, Mr Aso says he will put pocketbook issues to the fore.rnMr Aso has two main aims in a special session of the Diet (parliament). The ruling coalition says that the global financial crisis makes it more pressing than ever to pass a stimulus package worth ￥11.5 trillion ($106 billion, though only one-fifth is new spending). Second is the renewal of the navy's refuelling operation in the Indian Ocean, part of the international effort in Afghanistan and a main symbol of Japan's readiness to play a bigger part in the world.
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